Advances in Hepatitis Treatment Highlight Curable C and Ongoing B Management

Direct‑acting antiviral agents have transformed hepatitis C therapy, delivering cure rates above 95% after an eight‑ to twelve‑week oral regimen and reducing side‑effects compared with older interferon‑based treatments. The main challenge now is diagnosing the many individuals who remain unaware of their infection.

Hepatitis B, while not curable, can be controlled with long‑term antiviral suppression that keeps viral loads undetectable and protects against liver damage, cirrhosis and cancer. Public awareness is growing, exemplified by Victor Chen, a 32‑year‑old Canadian of Taiwanese origin who was born with hepatitis B. He stresses that the virus is not contagious in daily life, stresses regular monitoring, a healthy lifestyle and the protective hepatitis B vaccine, and works to educate others about transmission and living normally with the disease.